Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit ends in another defeat
Justin Baldoni dealt court blow over New York Times lawsuit
Justin Baldoni’s legal woes have deepened after his production company was ordered to pay more than $171,000 in damages to The New York Times after its failed defamation lawsuit linked to Blake Lively’s allegations.
Wayfarer Studios, founded by the 42-year-old actor and filmmaker, has been instructed to pay after New York Supreme Court Justice Gerald Lebovits ruled in favour of the newspaper.
The payment follows the company’s unsuccessful attempt to sue the publication over its 2024 investigation, We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.
The explosive article examined Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and workplace retaliation against her, It Ends with Us co-star, sparking one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal battles.
For the unversed, Baldoni and Lively became locked in a bitter dispute throughout 2024 before eventually reaching an out-of-court settlement earlier this year.
In a joint statement, lawyers representing both sides said the film It Ends with Us remains “a source of pride” and stressed their shared commitment to raising awareness of domestic violence and supporting survivors.
The statement also acknowledged that the legal battle had been difficult, adding that the Gossip Girl star’s concerns “deserved to be heard”.
It went on to express hope that the agreement would allow everyone involved to move forward peacefully while promoting respectful behaviour online and maintaining workplaces free from misconduct.
However, her legal team hailed the outcome as a major triumph for the actress.
Speaking to NBC News, her lawyers described the settlement as a “resounding victory”, arguing that Jane the Virgin actor and the other defendants had accepted personal responsibility by waiving their right to appeal.
They also claimed the agreement finally put to rest suggestions that Lively had fabricated her allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
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